500.A15/1145: Telegram
The Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 28—8:50 a.m.]
45. At the speed at which we are at present progressing the second reading will in all probability be terminated this week. The third reading which is expected to be purely formal will take place presumably early next week, possibly Monday.
The text is practically complete on second reading with the exception of a possible provision for revision under restricted circumstances, ratification, and denunciation.
These are being prepared and will probably be passed this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
In considering the texts which have been sent you, please bear in mind that they are considered in no sense a finished product but that they represent the most practical method of stating the resultant views of conflicting schools of thought among 25 delegations. They really should be regarded as constituting a memorandum as a starting point for discussion in the final conference and in no sense as a binding text. This has been repeatedly stated and remains uncontested so that we have not felt it necessary to prolong this session by insistence on perfected drafting such as would be essential for signature.